From the editor: Women who lead

In Southwest Florida, women are shaping the region’s economy in ways large and small — some that are highly visible, and many others that tend to go underrecognized.

This issue highlights 10 Women in Business whose work spans industries including health care, education, nonprofit leadership and entrepreneurship. What connects them is not a single career path, but a shared impact. Through leadership, mentorship and community involvement, each has contributed not only to her profession, but to the broader region.

That influence extends beyond titles or bottom lines. Many of this year’s honorees are building organizations, expanding access and reinvesting in their communities. Their work reflects a broader truth about Southwest Florida’s economy: Growth here depends on people willing to lead and create opportunity for others.

At the same time, the path to leadership is not always equitable. Workforce data shows women remain underrepresented at every level of the corporate pipeline, particularly in senior roles. In a region facing talent shortages, that gap carries real economic consequences.

You’ll see another dimension of the progress toward equity and growth in our feature on women in health care, where physicians are stepping into leadership roles while expanding access to care and reducing barriers for patients.

What stands out to me in this issue is not just what these women have accomplished, but how they’ve done it: by building, mentoring and, in many cases, lifting others along the way. Their work is a reminder that leadership is not only about position, but about positive influence.

What’s clear in these pages and in the stories of these women is that leadership here is already taking shape — steadily, and with purpose.